August 2009 - Handle With Care, Smart Warehouse - Will Clifford

Jerwood Sculpture Prize nominee and member of the RBS, London-based artist Will Clifford, was the first solo artist to exhibit with newest ARI in Birmingham, TROVE. Alongside some of Clifford’s previous work he created a new site-specific interactive sculpture which was born out of a period of archival research and study into the temporary space, its history and context. Clifford therefore sought to address the ways in which we map and classify the space around us.Alluding to the space’s history as a factory producing flat-pack furniture, this artwork was be made up of uniform inter-locking elements taken from the site which could be arranged in a variety of different ways to create a unique outcome each time. This allowed the artwork to be continually altered by the artist and audience members over the four-hour period. The constraints of space no longer exist and the impact of the shape within the space created an unusual visual language, the house of cards responding to the architecture as well as the ‘play’ of the audience, ideas that are fundamental within Clifford’s practice.

July 2009 - Menagerie of Birds, Pitt Studio - Group exhibition

In historical terms ‘Menagerie’ is used to describe the collection and captivity of exotic animals. It was defined in the Methodical Encyclopedia of 1782 as an ‘establishment of luxury and curiosity.’ For Menagerie of Birds curator Charlie Levine has bought together a collection of artists whose work encompasses the thoughts of captivity, luxury and curiosity represented through the image of the bird. From a subtle sound piece by Stuart Tait, books by Annabel Dover, paintings by Michelle Munn and Scott Robertson, a light drawing by David Miller, delicate cut outs by Claire Brewster, sculptures by Dicky Graham and a film piece by Harminder Singh Judge this show is certainly eclectic.

Menagerie of Birds seeks to combine various methods of artistic practice with Levine as the bird fancier as the first invited curator at Pitt Studio.

This exhibition presents six new works by Caitlin Griffiths, all of which are responsive to the minute books from the archives found at Margaret Street School of Art, as well as the written interpretive text of David Miller that accompanied the first of the exhibitions in this duo of shows. Griffiths interprets and analyses the hand written text of Miller and the anonymous minute takers from 1821-28, 1871 and 1921-22. From this analysis she responds in the form of short stories, her process begins with researching the style of the handwriting through graphological methods. She then creates stories triggered from certain character traits found within the analysis, the pseudoscience of graphology becoming a fictional fact for Griffiths to reinterpret.

David Miller and Natalia Morris were invited to respond to the Archives at Birmingham City University, resulting in the creation of new works that were displayed within the foyer space of Margaret Street during February 2009.

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.